Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-02-18
ADDISON COUNTY TEMPERANCE So
CIETY.

1he annual meeting of the aboVe-named
society, held at the vestry of the Congre-
gational church, Middlebury, Wednesday
afternoon, was called to order by the
president, Milo b. Williamson of Corn
wall. There was good attendance.
Rev. Mr.. Stebbins of Cornwall led in
prayer. President Williamson read the
call for the meeting as published.
The reports of the secretary and treas
urcr were read, accepted and adopted.
The next business being the election of
officers, l.. G. Barrows of Middlebury
moved that the chair appoint a committee
of one from each town represented. and
he named; l.. G.. Barrows. Middlebury ::
l.. W. Peet, Cornwall; X. T.. Bristol.
Panton; Col. Hamilton, Salisbury; Jo-
seph Smith, Shorcham: Rev. Mr.. May
hew. Whiting; j. b. Cherbino, Wey-
bridge; Rev. Mr.. Olmsted, Bridport.
The chair was also directed to appoint
committee on resolutions and named
Rev. :. l.. B. Spcare and Rev. j. j. Noe
Mr.. Speare asked to be excused, for rea-
sons which he stated: and at his suggcs-
tion Rev. DR.. Archibald of Middlebury
was put on in his place.
Rev. Mr.. Speare wished to know what
the Legislature did for the temperance
cause. The president called upon Judge
Knapp of Middlebury to answer. He
said the legislature was in sympathy with
progressive prohibtory legislation. 1t
would not be easy to specify briefly what
it did, but it could be stated that it did Il
great deal to prevent evil. Every law is
defective at first: so was the prohibitory
law, now in force in Vermont for 30 wears.
1t has been improved from year to year.
Avenues of escape have been closed up.
For instance, it was found that in certain
cases a disclosure could not be forced :
that difficulty was removed by the last
legislature. He mentioned other points
wherein the law was strengthened An
effort to pass Il license law was defeated :
the provisions for temperance teaching
in schools were increased and the law
was bettered. \ civil-lamage act was
passed.
+. X. Haven of Nergennes, who at
tended the national ant-saloon conven-
ton at Chicago last summer, was asked
short notice.
j. +. Crane of Middlcbury wanted to
know why the government could collect
its tax on liquor dealers with ease, while
the State has great difficulty in enforcing
its laws. F. f. Stewart thought it was
due to the fact that prosecuting officers,
being local officials and depending for
position on voters, are not so free to do
their duty as United States officers. Rev.
Mr. Olmsted believed the temperance peo-
pie were to blame; they appear at tenn
perance meetings. but are not to be found
when needed to help enforce the law.
The law is good enough; and he didn't
blame officers for failing to enforce the
law when temperance people do not come
up to their help. l.. W. Peet of Cornwall
did not think business men could afford
toiniure themselves by going into this
fight. The best plan, in MS opinion, is
to raise fund in the county. say $1,000
to $1,000, hire lawyer and then notify
the rum-sellers to quit or stand the con-
sequences. Mr.. Stewart did not believe
that after paying taxes people should he
called upon to pay more. Further re-
marks were made by O. F. Comstock of
Mddlebury.
Mr.. Barrows reported as follows for
the committee on nominations, and the
report was accepted and adopted: Presi-
dent, Rev. F. W. Olmsted of Brdport:
vice-presidents, Mrs. Clinton Smith of
Middlebury, Rev. W. NJ. Mayhem of
Whiting; secretary and treasurer, +. IL.
Thorp of Middlebury; executive COM
mittee, F. +. Stewart of Weybridge. f.
X. Haven of Nergennes, Seneca Hazard
of Ferrisburgh, c. +. Smith of Bristol.
Rufus Smith of Addison, X. +. Bristol of
Panton, Daniel Meader of Monkton. f.
a. Doud of New Haven, c. A. Bump of
Salisbury, W. ii. Matthews of Cornwall.
j. +. Crane of Middlebury, Frank Burge
of Shoreham, Marcellus Royce of Or
well, A. III. Hubbard of Whiting. J.P.
Russell of Bridport, l.. c. Needham of
Leicester.
Rev. DR.. Archibald made this report
for the committee on resolutions:
ReSolred, That we recognize with pleasure
the action OF the last legislature of Vermont
in making more adequate provision for scien-
tidc instruction in the public schools in regard
to the influence OF alcoholic drinks and mar
cotics on the human system, and express our
gratitude to the Woman's c. Il. L. for their
active work in procuring said legislation and
especially to Mrs. Hunt for her labor in this
direction.
Resolved, That we rejoice in the amendments
to the law in regard to the sale of intoxicat.
ing drinks as affording additional facilities for
its enforcement, and call upon all the friends
of temperance to make active efforts for its
uniform application to all who infringe upon
its provisions, while at the same time we de.
sire such further provisions as will enable us
In -